Thursday, May 29, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
Construction Continues
Sign boards on E. McKay Road inform drivers early this week of the Miller St. closure, which allows for full reconstruction of the intersection to install a roundabout. “This intersection, located near the Shelbyville High School campus, has long been identified for improvements due to congestion and safety concerns—especially during school arrival and dismissal periods,” the City of Shelbyville said in a media release. “The project was supported by a third-party traffic study, which concluded that a roundabout was the most effective solution for traffic efficiency and safety.” The received a $2.4 million grant from INDOT to support the upgrade.
photos by JACK BOYCE
BELOW: Vehicles wait to access I-74 on Tuesday, the first day of a railroad crossing closing on N. Harrison that forced vehicles into a detour on East State Road 44.
A Stable Start: Equine Program Kicks Off at Middle School
A new program offering therapeutic riding and equine-assisted learning services at Shelbyville Middle School is already making an impact—and it hasn’t even officially started. Spearheaded by guidance counselor Katie Beyer and teacher Michaela Harris, the initiative introduces students to the benefits of working with horses through a partnership with Morristown-based Harnessing Hope, a local organization dedicated to youth development through equine interaction. While a full cohort of students will begin an eight-week experience in August, some 550 students had a chance last week to meet the horses, engage in hands-on activities, and get a preview of what’s to come. “Seeing students—especially those who will be in the program next year—step out of their comfort zones and experience immediate co-regulation was incredible,” Harris said. “The way their eyes lit up and their tough exteriors just melted away gives me so much hope.” Beginning this fall, a selected group of students will visit Harnessing Hope weekly to build soft skills like communication, emotional awareness, and self-regulation, followed by Thursday guidance lessons to reinforce each week’s theme. Funded in part by a mentoring grant, the program will also include visits to a local veterinary clinic and possibly the racetrack, expanding students’ understanding of equine care and how horses can support both healing and learning. For Beyer, the most meaningful part has been watching students embrace the experience. “My approach has always been—if one student benefits, it’s worth it,” she said. “Watching kids and staff smile, take deep breaths, and just enjoy the moment—it was beautiful.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
City of Shelbyville officials held a budget planning meeting yesterday to discuss moving forward in light of state cuts. Clerk-Treasurer Scott Asher has been working with city department heads for months to identify ways to make the budget work. Although some communities across the state have reportedly discussed cuts to emergency services, city officials do not expect that locally, especially given the city receives racino funds. Mayor Scott Furgeson said Shelbyville “is fortunate to have revenues other than property taxes.” One challenge Shelbyville does face is location: being in the Indianapolis metro area means needing emergency services personnel salaries to be competitive with surrounding, wealthier, communities.
The Shelby County Fair schedule is posted here.
HOOSIER NEWS: Hundreds of companies tied to the sports gambling industry in Indiana will no longer need to be licensed with the state after July 1.
That’s because of a change by the Indiana Gaming Commission prompted by Gov. Mike Braun’s executive orders. Shortly after taking office, Braun ordered all state agencies to eliminate any licensing requirements deemed duplicative or burdensome, and not in the public or industry’s best interest. One such rule identified by the Indiana Gaming Commission requires “sports wagering registrants” to be licensed with the state. Such companies provide goods or services related to the sports gambling industry, but aren’t directly involved in taking bets or managing wagering accounts. Examples include payment processing companies or marketing firms. Gaming Commission officials said these companies pose little risk and that other state and federal regulations ensure they operate properly. Eliminating the licensing requirement also eliminates a fee the companies pay to the state. Over the last five years, the total of those fees collected by the Gaming Commission average a little more than $60,000 a year. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Poor posture can have debilitating effects on the body, in part because our heads are weightier than we give them credit for. In a straight-up, neutral position, the head exerts 10 to 12 pounds of pressure on the cervical spine. When it’s tilted at a 15-degree angle — like the one that your head may be at right now — it becomes 27 pounds. When it’s at 45 degrees, or “cellphone viewing angle,” that force grows to 49 pounds. (Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
Sept. 23, 1977, Part II
Liz Sirkus wrote an article about the “young creatures” new to SHS. “Freshmen will tend to be very friendly the first few weeks of school (girls in particular). They will all have bright, shiny and smiling faces. They will be wearing their new cowl neck sweaters, corduroy pants and leather coats during the 90-degree heat. The ‘big thing’ for the young tikes is to call each other by their foreign names. One young freshman will scream to his fellow classmate, ‘Hey Carlos’, then immediately burst into laughter.”
The girls’ golf team was 1-5. “Coach Gould stated, ‘Sandra Palmer and Jane Balock these girls aren’t, but they keep their pride and eagerness to learn, whether they win or lose.’”
Although senior Ross Sobel had a 7-1 record in singles tennis competition, the team was 2-6 so far. Three of the losses had been by just one point.
The volleyball team, coached by Sheila Williams and Shirley Oeffinger, was 2-0. Returning seniors were Becky Bruce, Julie English, Lee Ann Lay, Sharon Marshall, Pam Muncy, Diane Oeffinger, Lisa Pence and Jenny Woollen.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: Tyler Orem and Sarah Baysden were named valedictorian and salutatorian at Shelbyville High School, with the difference of their grade point averages being one one-hundredth of a point. Both were heavily involved at school.
1995: Local group Hometown Heritage was trying to find out what happened to the trees and markers placed in Morrison Park in memory of the 42 Shelby County men who died during World War I. A large plaque listed all of their names, and smaller markers with individual names could be found in front of six trees. Gayle Wiley, a member of the group, said they were hoping to restore the markers.
1985: The Shelbyville Clerk-Treasurer’s office purchased computer software that would digitize payroll, allowing for more nuanced deductions.
1975: Walter Bender was named new city-county animal warden by Mayor Jerry Higgins.
1965: After years of discussion, bids were underway to expand the post office 36 feet to the south and expand the loading and dock areas. The interior would be remodeled to provide a large public lobby and increase in the number of lock boxes, which previously numbered 300. Service windows facing the lobby area would be converted to open “bank type” windows.
The Belaire Shopping Center sign was installed along I-74.
1955: An estimated crowd of 500 came out for Shelbyville’s Memorial Day Parade, featuring a battalion of 300 National Guard soldiers.
1945: Harold Davis, 19, Boggstown, was listed as missing in action by the Navy. Davis had been overseas eight months.
Two Shelbyville men, Frank Halton and Richard Schmidt, had participated in the Okinawa island invasion campaign, in which the local gunmen helped clear the beaches for invading troops. “So deadly were her (the ship’s) big guns that troops encountered no enemy fire in the areas she covered.”
1935: Funeral plans were announced for Herbert DePrez, 58, who had died following a long illness. The body was to be cremated. He was the son of John C. and Zora Miller DePrez. He had married Lillian Nading, who survived with their two children, John C. DePrez and Mary DePrez. Two brothers, Harry W. and John Day DePrez, also survived. (Editor’s Note: In 1997, a Blue River Community Foundation fund was opened by Mrs. Mary (DePrez) Harris and her son, Edward W. Harris III with a $5,000 gift matched from Mrs. Harris' nephew, John C. DePrez, Jr. Mrs. Edward Harris Jr. was the daughter of Herbert and Lillian DePrez, and John is their grandson. Since granting in 1998, the Herbert B. and Lillian N. DePrez Opera Education Fund has provided over $25,000 in grants to support opera education and performance opportunities to Shelby County residents. The fund has allowed the Indianapolis Opera to visit Shelby County schools over a dozen times to deliver performances. Most recently, a grant was made to Shelby Senior Services for the Indianapolis Opera to perform a cabaret for local seniors at the new Wortman Family Civic Theatre.)
1925: “A most unusual Memorial Day decoration is being displayed today and tomorrow in the window of the Goodman Department Store on the corner of Washington St. and the Public Square,” The Republican reported. “A soldier’s grave in miniature has been made and so arranged that the breeze blows the flag and the palms in a very realistic manner. Pictures of Shelby boys in service and of General Pershing and other notable soldiers are also displayed.”
1915: Local hotels and rooming houses were booked due to the race. Indianapolis rates were “sky high,” The Republican said, sending visitors to places like Shelbyville.
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OBITUARIES
None today.